Punjab Government places a ban on the screening of ‘Joyland’ soon after Censor Board had given permission to release the movie countrywide.
Punjab Information and Culture Department sent the notice to Sarmad Sultan Khoosat on November 17 informing them that the Joyland team cannot exhibit their film in the jurisdiction of the Punjab Police until further notice by the Government of Punjab.
The notice read that under Section-9, 1 and 2 (a) and (b) of the Motion Pictures Ordinance, 1979, and the rules made under it, the government has decided to re-call Joyland “in the wake of persistent complaints received from different quarters”.
Where is Maria B’s dupatta/hijab in accordance with Quran and sunnah? How are her sleeveless clothes in accordance to Quran and sunnah? What a hypocrite pic.twitter.com/ToQna6wXvg
— Nishat (@nishat218) November 14, 2022
It also states that the government may at any point call for the record of the proceedings in relation to any film that may be pending before or has been decided by the board. After such an inquiry into the matter as considered necessary and without notice to the person who has applied for the certification of the film, or to whom the certificate has been granted to the distributor or exhibitor of such film, make such order in relation thereto as it thinks fit.
Read more: Pakistan allows screening of controversial film Joyland
The section also says that no such order can be made by the government unless it is satisfied to do so “in the interest of the glory of Islam or the integrity, security or defense of Pakistan”.
The ban by the Punjab government comes less than 24 hours after the federal government had allowed the screening of the movie. The ban was banned due to the objectionable content and against Islamic principles.
The film is going through a phase of ban and un-ban in Pakistan. Joyland has already been screened in a number of foreign film festivals and has received accolades. In Pakistan, there is a divided response to the screening and release of the movie in the country.
Fashion designer Maria B and Feroze Khan have supported the ban on the film.